What We Do

We raise adorable Labrador and German Shepherd puppies in Guiding Eyes for the Blind to become exceptional guide dogs to people with vision loss. At 8 to 10 weeks of age we welcome these pups into our homes, provide them with a loving environment, teach good house manners and people skills, utilize special training techniques, and socialize them to everyday experiences and to the world around them.

Between 14 and 16 months of age, the pup is returned to Guiding Eyes for evaluation by professional trainers. Most dogs will continue on to complete 4 to 6 more months of advanced training upon which they graduate and go on to help a visually impaired or blind individual.

Guiding Eyes provides training and support for its volunteers by providing local classes, quarterly evaluations, videotapes, and instruction manuals. There are many avenues to help support Guiding Eyes. We hope you find one that suits you. If you are interested in becoming a puppy raiser, please check out the Montgomery Region’s Puppy Raising Program .

This Region covers the Montgomery County area in Maryland. You are welcome to raise in any region you wish. Class meeting days, location, and traffic all play a role in your decision. If you live outside of this area and would like to see if there is a puppy raising region closer to you, please check the Locations for puppy raising programs or contact the Guiding Eyes Canine Development Center at (866) GEB-LABS or cdc@guidingeyes.org.